From the CEO

By the time Illinois became the 21st state in the union, its expansive prairies and navigable waterways had already attracted settlers. Many came to farm. Some came to trade. Almost immediately, conflict with the local Sauk, Potawatomi, and Winnebago communities led to bloodshed. For the next 200 years, the struggles around immigration, race, commerce and social justice have characterized our state and produced a remarkable people. We’ve seen our share of disasters, crime and human folly — all of which fed the newspapers of the day, including the Chicago Sun- Times and its predecessor publications showcased in this special edition. Yet for all our troubles, the resilient and creative people of Illinois have worked hard every day to lift us up — in Chicago’s case, quite literally out of a swamp. Illinois has produced pastors, engineers, artists, writers, musicians, entrepreneurs, industrialists, activists, and, yes, even politicians whose vision, courage, leadership and Midwestern pragmatism have changed the world. As the cover of this special edition reminds us, Illinois produced the president who ended slavery and our first African-American president. Our people did that, and much more. Whether to respond to a disaster or to create a new opportunity, for 200 years, our people have stepped up, time after time. This keepsake edition of the Sun- Times begins a year- long celebration of our bicentennial, one that will continue with more stories leading up our state’s 200th birthday on Dec. 3, 2018. It would not have been possible to assemble the images in this publication if not for the state’s remarkable public and private cultural institutions, as well as the journalists and photojournalists who have covered our state for generations. It would not have been possible to provide context for those images if not for scholars and thought leaders throughout the state. This edition provides an opportunity to place our daily struggles in perspective and to reflect on our stunning contributions. I hope you enjoy it.